Many people came through the property and took items that they could use in their own homes. Some items went to salvage yards like Yankee Restoration, others to builders who are asked to restore old homes.
At the end of Phase 1 we were left with some bare walls and floors and off to the Cape we went for the 4th.
After a beautiful 4th of July weekend the start of our short work week began with almost 100 degree weather and lasted a couple of days. YIKES! All hands were on deck though and we made sure that they didn't lack any ice, water, tea, watermelon and Pizza of course.
Phase II - Demolition:
The start of our demolition began with lots of surprises. We found a couple of old coins dating back to the 1800's & 1900's, an Abraham Lincoln statue, newspapers tucked in the walls & ceilings dating back to 1916, 1924 & 1929, an old baking soda can, condensed milk can, a roll of beautiful antique wall paper, a small section of a wall paper runner with Historical figures and items on it, an old stove, plastic bathroom tiles, and an old shoe.
The shoe puzzled us so we began some research and found out that people back then would place a shoe in the cavities of the home they were building to ward off bad spirits. We found this article which explains: Most often concealed shoes are placed in chimneys or over doors and windows "areas of the house considered susceptible, or weak, where something could come into the property," says Josephine Hickin, shoe heritage development officer at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in England. http://www.thestar.com/article/447311
We also found another article from the Wayland Historical Society which speculates why shoes were hidden. http://wayhistsoc.home.comcast.net/~wayhistsoc/whs/Shoes_in_the_Wall/shoes_in_the_wall.htm
Strangely enough, the shoe we found was discovered next to the fireplace.
After our research was done we concluded that these items should be donated to the Weymouth Historical Society along with the old torn flag that draped the entry stairway. They are all a part of history and must be preserved due to the historical significance of this home.
Below are some photos of our fascinating finds - check out the cost of a coat back in 1916:
Our next blog will show before photos of the rooms and the demo'd rooms. Stay Tuned!
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